U.S. hotel results for week ending 1 August
U.S. hotel RevPAR rose 7.3% year-over-year for the week ending 1 August 2026, with Philadelphia and St. Louis leading Top 25 Markets while Las Vegas posted the steepest declines.
News
HOSPA Professional Development receives Savoy Educational Trust grant to support self-funded learners
HOSPA Professional Development received a Savoy Educational Trust grant to fund scholarships for self-funded learners in finance, revenue management and asset management courses.
CoStar, Tourism Economics upgrade U.S. hotel growth forecast
CoStar and Tourism Economics raised their 2026-27 U.S. hotel outlook at the Hotel Data Conference, lifting RevPAR by 1.6 ppts and ADR by 1.1 ppts, with GOPPAR forecast to rise 4% in 2026.
Either everyone is a VIP or Nobody is
A hotel operations veteran argues that true luxury service means personalizing attention for every guest, not prioritizing one "VIP" at the expense of everyone else.
The Role of Operational Luxury in Hospitality
Operators at luxury properties are prioritizing "operational luxury," investing in behind-the-scenes systems and technology that ensure consistent, frictionless guest experiences at scale.
By David Chioe, Regional Director of Hospitality Sales, APAC, Matrix
GBTA Convention 2026 Unites the Global Business Travel Industry to Connect, Learn, Innovate and Shape the Sector's Future
GBTA Convention 2026 drew 5,500+ attendees from 47 countries at McCormick Place, with the newly released BTI forecasting record global business travel spend of $1.71 trillion in 2026.
Zambia Luxury Lodge Collection Launches, Uniting Four of the Country's Leading Luxury Safari Lodges Under One Owner-Led Brand
ZLLC unites Chichele Presidential, Puku Ridge, Lolebezi and Lolelunga under direct owner management from January 2027, with new US and UK sales representation and an active rewilding program including Zambia's first captive-bred lion reintroduction.
The end of beigification: Why travelers are searching for something real
Preferred Travel Group CEO Lindsey Ueberroth joins Revinate's Hotel Moment podcast to discuss why authentic, personality-driven independent hotels are outcompeting branded chains.
Karen Stephens, Chief Marketing Officer, Revinate, Inc.
Doug Kennedy’s Next Staff Training Webcast: Technification Is Causing Commoditization: Stand Out Through Humanification
Doug Kennedy's free August 21 webcast covers how over-automation risks brand commoditization, and trains frontline and leadership teams to balance tech with human connection.
The Real Secret to Out-Servicing Your Competition
The author argues that since most products are commodities, trust and post-sale service experience are the true differentiators that keep customers returning over price alone.
By Shep Hyken, Customer Service and Experience Expert, Keynote Speaker and Bestselling Author, Shepard Presentations, LLC.
Over $1 Trillion Investment in Travel & Tourism Signals a Vote of Confidence in the Sector's Future
WTTC's 2025 EIR Global Trends Report finds Travel & Tourism investment surpassed $1 trillion, up 8.5% year-on-year, with the sector contributing a record $11.6 trillion to world GDP.
Middle East Travel & Tourism Faces Temporary Headwinds But Remains the World's Strongest Long-Term Growth Story
WTTC forecasts a 14.5% contraction in Middle East tourism GDP in 2026 due to conflict, but projects 6.3% annual growth through 2036, making it the world's fastest-growing tourism region.
Kempinski Becomes Munich's Ultimate Insider
Kempinski launches E.R.A.s (Experience Real Access) at Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Munich, offering guests exclusive city access via Local Insiders and a dedicated Resident Curator role.
What Your Hotel Is Worth to a Lender And Why Every Owner, Asset Manager, and Advisor Should Know
HVS founder Steve Rushmore explains why the debt coverage ratio method produces a more defensible hotel valuation than the loan-to-value approach, with worked examples showing how lender inputs drive value and loan sizing.
By Stephen Rushmore, Hotel Valuation Expert and Founder of HVS, Hotel Valuation Software
The End of More for More’s Sake
Kempinski's CEO argues that luxury hospitality has confused abundance with value, and that the competitive edge belongs to hotels that offer precisely what matters rather than accumulating amenities and upsells.
By Barbara Muckermann, Group Chief Executive Officer, Kempinski
United Hospitality Management Accelerates India Expansion with Three New Hotel Signings with IHG Hotels & Resorts
UHM signs three IHG-branded hotels in India totalling 182 keys, bringing its India portfolio to 24 properties as it targets 100+ hotels across the country.
Forbes Travel Guide Expands; Mandarin Oriental Headlines Inaugural Debut Collection
Forbes Travel Guide launches Debut and Curated discovery collections, with Mandarin Oriental's 14 upcoming hotels headlining the first Debut group; profiles are sponsored and not Star-Rated.
Elong Hotel Technology Group Sets New Milestone for China's Food Sustainability with Comprehensive Cage-free Eggs and Plant-Based Commitments
Elong Hotel Technology Group, operating 3,000+ hotels across China, commits to 100% cage-free egg sourcing by 2030 and expanded plant-based menus across its breakfast and F&B operations.
The Wrong Questions
Hospitality boards focus AI oversight on data privacy and vendor compliance, but rarely ask who is accountable when AI-driven operating decisions in revenue, F&B, or housekeeping go wrong.
By Terence Ronson, Founder & Managing Director, Pertlink Limited
First Hospitality Assumes Management of Five New Lifestyle Properties in Five New Markets
First Hospitality adds five lifestyle properties across Sedona, Santa Barbara, Green Bay, Elkhart, and St. Louis, entering five new markets under Marriott and Hilton brand flags.